The 1999 Regina Vides spent 24 months in new French oak and, like its siblings, was bottled without fining or filtration. An opaque purple color is followed by gorgeous aromas of blackberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, graphite, leather, and earth. Medium to full-bodied and ripe, with its tannin largely obscured by rich extract, glycerin, and texture, this is an impressive albeit expensive offering. The pricing here is not easy to explain, but as the song says ... that's just the way it is. Importer: De Maison Selections, Chapel Hill, NC; tel. (919) 933-4245